Subject: Salt ionizes in water so why does salt water taste salty?

My confusion lies in that the compound NaCl is a completely different 
substance with completely different properties from sodium and 
chloride ions. My understanding is also that NaCl ionizes into sodium 
and chloride ions when in water. So why does the property of salty 
taste not change when sodium chloride is dissolved and ionized in 
water to sodium and chloride ions?

Thanks

Re: Salt ionizes in water so why does salt water taste salty?